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< Picture Books Library
Categories: Being Different & Being Yourself, Confidence & Self-esteem, Wearing Glasses / Eye patch

The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses

A picture book which acknowledges that getting used to wearing glasses can be a challenge for some children. The boy in the story ultimately grows to accept them.
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The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses by Susanne Gervay

Author: Susanne Gervay
Illustrator: Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
Publisher: EK Books

Sam doesn’t like his new glasses. They make his ears hurt. His parents say he looks handsome in them. But Sam just wants to look like himself. His teacher doesn’t recognize him; she says he must be a new superhero. But Sam doesn’t want to be a superhero. He just wants to be himself. At least his best friend George recognizes him and thinks he looks okay. Sam does everything he can to lose his glasses but they keep being found. And then things get even worse, and Sam has to cope with googly-eyed turtles and giant penguins! Eventually, with a bit of confidence and a lot of humour, Sam finds out that wearing glasses isn’t so bad – and people still like him just the way he is after all.

A super book that has been carefully and skilfully created to comfort and reassure children who are finding it difficult to adjust to wearing glasses. The story is narrated by the protagonist Sam in a tone you would expect from a young boy. The beautiful illustrations by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall really breathe life into the characters.

This video link is provided to help an adult assess the book's suitability for a child's situation before purchasing it. It has been filmed by a third party and hosted on YouTube and is not made by Little Parachutes. More info

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

  • Sam worries that people won’t recognise him in his glasses and will treat him differently.
  • Sometimes well-meaning comments can upset children if they don’t fully understand the motivation behind them. The adults in the story try to make Sam feel good about his glasses by saying he looks handsome or like a superhero, but Sam just wants to be himself. Only his best friend George ‘says it like it is’ and simply states that ‘Sam’s got glasses’.
  • Sam is upset when his classmates tease him about his appearance.

Guidance:

  • If glasses are uncomfortable, an optician can adjust them

Hope & Inspiration:

  • Sam ultimately gets used to his glasses and realises that his friends see ‘the old Sam’ after all.
  • Sam cleverly uses his sense of humour to get his classmates laughing along with him. He shows resilience, bouncing back from his sad feelings about his appearance.
Review by: Claire Ward-Dutton

Categories: Being Different & Being Yourself, Confidence & Self-esteem, Wearing Glasses / Eye patch
Tags: anxiety, appearance, co-operation, confidence, fears, friends, glasses, persistence, prejudice, rudeness, school, stubbornness, transition



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What is a Parachute Book?

A challenging experience can make a young child feel as if they are in emotional free fall. As a parent, you can’t stop them falling, but you can offer them a softer landing:
a Parachute Book.

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The information provided on the Little Parachutes website is not a substitute for professional care by a qualified practitioner, and is not intended to provide medical advice. If you are concerned about the health and wellbeing of yourself or children in your care, you should always consult an appropriate healthcare professional.